Fracture and Fathom

2026
For two Pianos
​Duration: c. 7'30"

Commissioned by the Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts Theatre & Dance Program. Written in collaboration with Heather Britt, chorographer.
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Premiered on May 1, 2026. Corbett Theater, Northern Kentucky University, KY.

Program Note

When faced with two opposing ideas, particularly in music, the tendency is to make them mutually exclusive. Only one idea can be correct, therefore the other must be rectified through transformation or obliterated entirely. With Fracture and Fathom, I hope to share how an unstable relationship can instead become harmonious through context. At the outset, an oscillating pair of chords is established. Their relationship is inherently unstable, and neither feels quite “correct.” As the work progresses, several attempts are made at stabilization; all are unsuccessful. It is only at the maximum level of tension and density that the rub between the two is slowly unraveled. The relationship is resolved not through overpowering the imbalance, but by recognizing the fracture between them. The tone gradually mellows, and the pair become two sides of the same chasm. The work concludes with a delicate reinterpretation of the initial material; one which uses the harmonic pair as one unified idea.

Britt writes about her choreography: "This piece is about transitioning into a new era and the struggles that can come with the unknown and the risks and decisions surrounding growth. The dancers represent multiple sides of oneself, our past, present, and future selves."

Photos from the premiere featuring choreography by Heather Britt titled Flux​.
Courtesy of NKU SOTA